Yep, you read that right. There is now an app that will let you apply themes to your phone that’s a stock launcher, and you don’t even need to void the warranty on your device to do it. What’s a launcher, you ask? When you use your phone on the home screen or app drawer you are interacting with the launcher. If you’re not using a custom one, you’re using the stock launcher. The launcher controls how the phone works when you interact with it, the home screen layout, its transitions and more. Using a custom launcher enables you to modify home screen app icons, tweak the look of app folders and change how your app dock is organized. Beautiful Icon Styler brings the ability to apply icon packs without a custom launcher and without rooting your device. It’s a magical app that does what no other app has been able to do before.

To my knowledge up until Beautiful Icon Styler, there were two ways to theme your stock launcher. If you didn’t want to root your device, you might use an app called Desktop VisualizeR which basically allows you to create shortcuts on your home screen with whatever image you want that would launch an app of your choice. Or, if you felt like rooting your device you could use an app called Unicon via Xposed framework which was pretty simple to use. The benefit of Unicon was that it themes the icons everywhere, not just on your home screen or app drawer but even within apps. The downside, you have to be rooted.

Beautiful Icon Styler seems to be the answer we’ve all been looking for with stock launcher setups. You don’t have to painstakingly create shortcuts for each app you want themed on your home screen and you don’t have to be rooted. Beautiful Icon Styler is free but offers an in app purchase to unlock the full features. It’s nice that the developer gives you the option to apply a few themes before having to purchase the app. You get 3 “stylings”, then you’re forced to go through with the in-app purchase if you want to change your home screen again. OR, you can invite your friends and if you get two to install the app with your unique link you get it unlocked free. A pretty sweet gig.

Once you’re in Beautiful Icon Styler it’s pretty simple to use. You have a page that displays the icon packs currently installed on your device that you can apply. Another page that allows you to change the icons individually if, for example, an app isn’t currently themed for the icon pack but you want to give it a custom icon anyway. Additionally, Beautiful Icon Styler provides a page for free and a page for paid icon packs that point to some of the most popular icon packs out there, so you’re in good hands if you’re new to customizing your home screen.

In the Google Play Store listing, the developer states that the apps are only styled on the home screen and not in app drawer which I found to be true. Definitely not a deal breaker. Additionally, Beautiful Icon Styler only supports icon packs that are compatible with Apex/Nova launcher, but most icon packs are so it’s not really a big deal. The dev also states a list of supported stock launchers. Most of the major manufacturers are covered except for LG. The stock launchers include:

Stock Android Launcher

Google Now Launcher

Samsung Home (TouchWiz)

Motorola Home

HTC Sense

So who’s stoked on this? I’ve definitely looked into ways to theme the Google Now Launcher before and decided it just wasn’t worth it. Also, conveniently I just had to factory reset my Nexus 5 and only have Google Now Launcher on it. Great timing, right? Are you super excited to give your phone a new look with Beautiful Icon Styler or are you already over stock launchers? If you feel so inclined, we’d love to see your customized home screens. You can use the HTML <img> tag within the comments below to show the images. Let us know your thoughts on Beautiful Icon Styler and how you’re using it by commenting below.

Brooks is an engineer living in the Bay Area recently dislocated from the Great Northwest. He's an Android enthusiast who decided to start doing something (productive?) with his countless hours Android modding and theming. He has a hot wife, is a father of three, an avid F1 fan, and enjoys watching sports when he can. His current devices include the Nexus 6 and 7 (2103) both running stock roms and may or may not be rooted. You can follow Brooks on Twitter @Brooks_Barnard.

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I’ve been looking for a non-root Now based icon solution, and by the second trial application of a free theme, I bought this app and Lumos icon pack. I love it. That was almost too easy.

http://www.androidandme.com Brooks Barnard

Glad it worked for you. It’s a pretty slick app.

SMolnar

I use a combo of Desktop Visualizer (to label my home screen pages) & Folder Organizer (to group apps & other things into folders on my home screens). Folder Organizer allows me to use any icons present on my phone & assign them to the folders & to the items inside the folders.

I’d love to show you a couple of screenshots, but don’t know how to attach them here.

Melad

my app drawer isn’t getting themed, only my home screen :/

Melad

I take that back I didn’t see it only themes the home screen

mcsk8r

Does anyone know what clock widget they are using in the screenshot above?

Problem…
I used the icon pack but decided it wasn’t for me so I uninstalled the themes and then the icon style and restarted my phone..
It left my stock icons still themed and no way to get them back..anyone help..

Max

I have the exact same problem here. Please help!

http://www.androidandme.com Brooks Barnard

I would go to the play store listing and try contacting the developer. I have no idea how the app is able to do what it does. The developer does though. Worst case scenario, factory reset?